Harding vs Lincoln Memorial: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Harding runs $3,130 less per year; Harding graduates 17 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Harding if…
- The number on the bill matters: Harding lists $3,130 less per year in tuition and housing than Lincoln Memorial, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Harding graduates 17 percentage points more of its students than Lincoln Memorial.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Harding graduates earn about $2,920 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Harding against none listed at Lincoln Memorial.
Lean Lincoln Memorial if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lincoln Memorial is $6,500 lower than at Harding.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Harding | Lincoln Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $24,888 — Harding leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $26,150 |
| Room & board | $9,940 — Harding leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,808 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $34,828 — Harding leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $37,958 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Harding | Lincoln Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 71% — Harding leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 54% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $52,876/yr — Harding leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $49,956/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,500 | $20,000 — Lincoln Memorial leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 50% | 40% — Lincoln Memorial leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Harding | Lincoln Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 71% | 63% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,608 | 5,805 |
| Where it is | Searcy, AR | Harrogate, TN |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Harding | Lincoln Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GAC | SAC |
| Head coach | Ashley Reeves | Ritchie Richardson |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Harding | Lincoln Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 2 listed (2 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Harding
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Harding Softball Youth Camp (1st - 6th Grade)07/28/2026 - 07/29/2026 · Girls · $90.00
- Harding Softball Prospect Camp (14 & Up)07/30/2026 - 07/31/2026 · 9th Grade - College Senior · $230
Lincoln Memorial
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Harding vs Lincoln Memorial: common questions
- Is Harding or Lincoln Memorial cheaper?
- On published price, Harding is cheaper — about $34,828 a year in tuition and housing, against $37,958 at Lincoln Memorial. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Harding or Lincoln Memorial?
- Harding, at 71% against 54% at Lincoln Memorial (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Harding and Lincoln Memorial offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- Do Harding and Lincoln Memorial run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Harding and none currently listed at Lincoln Memorial. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Harding and Lincoln Memorial?
- Harding runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Lincoln Memorial, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Harding and Lincoln Memorial accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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